Automatic railway-crossing gate



April 24, 1928.

T. N. COFFELDER AUTOMATIC RAILWAY CROSSING GATE Filed NOV. 27. 1926 4 Sheets-Sheet l ivm,

Apri1z4, 192s.

T. N. COFFELDER AUTOMATIC RAILWAY CROSSING GATE 4 Sheets-Shet 2 Filed NOV. 27. 1926 wmvfasg www April 24, 192s.

l 1'. N. cor-'FELDER AUTOMATIC RAILWAY CROSSING GATE.

Filed Nov. 27. 1926 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 asf W/TNEJSES Apri124, 192s.

T. N. COFFELDER AUTOMATIC RAILWAY CROSSING GATE 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed NOV. 27. 1926 .NHANZL .m.m: L

VITA/fases Patented Apr. 24, 1928.

THOMAS N.. CQFFELDEB0F PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA.'

AUTOMATIC Beltway-anaemia vearn.

Application mea November 27, 192s. 'sami 'No.flsrirs.

rIlhis invention relates to automatically o erated railway gates which are operated y lan engine or train of cars passing `over the region of the railway guarded by the gate.

It is among .the Objects of this invention to provide an automatic railway crossing gate which shall be positively operated by the passing of trains over sections of the tracks remote from thecrossing to close the gate arms, and subsequently, after the trains have passed the crossing, vthe gates will be automatically opened 'by the same or 'similar operating mechanism.

Another object of this invention is to provide ay system for automatically,operating gate arms for railway crossings by fluid pressure which shall embody a minimum number .of operating parts of simple c ompact and durabley mechanical construction' and which shall be effective in its operation of closing and 4opening Athe gate `armeresponsive to the passing of railway trains over rails of .thetrac'ks with which lthe operating mechanism is associated.

` rOther obJects of this invention arev to provide mechanismyembodying a plurality of iiuid pressure lelements for respectively actuating the operating mechanism of the gate arms, for supplying an operatingmedium or fluid under pressure to the operating cylinder, and valve mechanism for selectively directing the operating medium to the top or bottom of the gate operating piston to raise or lower the gate arm and for returning the operatingme'dium to a supplyftank `from which it is conducted to the pressure supply member. l

' Various types of mechanism for automatically operating gate arms of railway crossings have been `heretofore proposed which commonly employ complicated gearing or complexele'ctrical systems for operating the gateA arms responsive to the operation of ytrack instruments that are actuated by the passing oit railwayvehicles over 4the tracks at some distance remote from the crossing at which thegates are located. f

In accordance `with the present invention gearing and electrical elements are entirely dispensed' With and the operatingv and actuatingmechanism herein disclosed embodies a series ot levers and fluid -pressureactmited elemntsfwhich are of simple construct-ion and are not so vreadily susceptible of becoming worn or broken so aste interrupt the function 4orlsuccessful?.operation of the Syst-em which iS a very' Vite-1 element in a gate operating. mechanism'invvhich ,safety 'isthe principal consideration..

l In the accompanying drawings constituting a part hereof-and in lWhichlike reference characters designate like V.parts Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic f vieiv of an 'automatically operatedrailway lcrossing 'ga-te arm and operating mechanism therefor "embodying the principles of this invention; "Fig, Qfis a top plan view of the gate arm and standardupon v which itis mounted ;v Fi .B yis fak view partially inside elevation an "partially in section of the arm and standard Ishown in Fig. 2; Fig. 4 isa diagrammatic view of a railvvay track illustrating they track instruments, the pjipe connections lleading from the gaterarin operating mechanism to the regulatingv valve, fluid supply tanks and pressure pumps all connectedto be'operated through the ,track instruments when Vthey are actuated 'by a vehicle passinY over the rails; Figs. 5 to -11l inclusive are fetjai'l' views of the valve mechanism of which Fig. 5 is a sectional view of avalve in Vone" operative position; Fig. 6 a section on -line VI-VI of Fig. 5; Fig. 7 a plan view of Fig. v5; Fig.v 8 a plan view of a valve in anothereperative position ;1*`ig.'9'a section on line IX-IX of F ig. 5'; AF ig. 10 `a section'on line X---Xk of Fig. 5; andFigQll'a section, taken on line XI-XIof Fig. 6; Figs. 12 and l'arevertical 4and longitudinal sectional views of the 'pump lelements employed inthe pressure system; 'and Fig. l4is aj'detail view of the valve regulating mechanism constituting apart of the track instruments.

Referring to Figs. 1 lto 3 of the drawings the construction therein illustrated comprises a lvertical stand-ard or pedestal member l having a gateyarm vadapted for vertical swinging movement mounted thereo'n', the arm 2 'being provided with hingesl 3 opening outwardly to per-mit the escape of vehicle or person that may betrapped on the track side' of' the arms wheny the gates are lowered. The arm. 2 is carried bya rshaft 4 -Which .is connected by -abell crank 5 through the"` link 6 "to an opera-.ting jlever` 7, this crank, link and lever-constituting a' toggle connection. Link vv(5 is mountedin rguide '8 and the free [end of the lever 7 vis disposed in a slotted ning i9 of a. piston rod 10. The short end of the gate arm is provided o Cul with counterweights 11 to provide a balanced lever, operating `around the shaft 4 as a fulcrum member, which requires very little effort to unbalanee it to raise or lower the gate arm.

A piston 12`connected to one end of the rod operates in la cylinder 13 having cylinder heads 14' and 15 provided with ports 16, 17, 18 and 19 respectively. The piston member 12 is provided with oppositely acting check valves 2O and 2Oa and the ports of the cylinder heads are opened or closed by a pair" of teeter valves 21 and The ports 16, 17, 18 and 19 are respectively connected by pipe lines 23, 24, 25 and 26 communicating with regulating valves 27 and 28.

Referring to Fig. 4 the valves 27 and 28 are connected by pipelines 29 and `30 to storage vtanks 31 and 32 respectively and by pipe lines 33V and k34 to pressure pumps and 36 respectively.

Referring to Figs. 1, 4 and 14 similar track instruments located on each side of the gate consist of a pair of levers 39 and 40 respectively actuated by fingers 41 and 42, and 41a and 42a.y As shown in Fig. 14 the fingers comprise lower and upper inembers 43 and 44 pivoted at 45, the members being respectively provided with` lugs 46 and 47 which when engaged by movement of the member 44 in one direction constitute the members 43 and 44 a rigid lever pivot ing at 45, the member 44 being movable about the pivot 45 in the opposite direction although normally biased to effect engagement of the lugs 46 and 47 by a spring 48. A connecting link 50 is connected at one end to one of the fingers of lever 39, and at the other end to a valveregulator arm 51 operating the valve 27; likewise a similar link 50n is also connected to arm512L regulating valve 28.

The track linstruments also embody a pair of rocker arms 53 and 53n pivotallyl connected at 54 and 54L to the rail, or in brackets mounted on the rail, and provided with levers 55 and 55a connected to the ends of piston rods 56 and 56a ofthe pumps 35 and 36 respectively.

The pumps are provided with check valves to cause one-way flow of the operating fluid frolnthe tanks to the valves, and being similar in construction, their operation may be explained by reference to Figs. 12 and 13, illustrating pump 36. As here shown valve is provided. with a lower stop and 57 with an upper stop, which prevent the ballmember from seating and closing those openings. The action is that as the piston rises. valve 57 closes and operating fluid is drawn in from the tank; similarly, when the piston descends, the fluid passes into pipe 34 but is prevented from entering 34 by .Closing of valve 57.

reame? Referring to Figs. 5 to 11 inclusive, the valve mechanism illustrated therein comprises astatlionary valve cylinder or housing 60 having flanged ends 61 for receiving the end brackets 62 and 63, the latter being provided with ports or openings communieating with the pipe lines leading to the pumps, tanks and the operating cylinder of the gate arm. Within the cylinder or housing 60 is disposed a vrotatable valve block 64 provided with a plurality of ports or openings 65 which are eight in number and interconnected as follows; two oppositely disposed ports 65 are connected by the channel 66; the two ports 65a whose axis is perpendicular to that of 65, are connected by a channel 66, and two ports 65h are conneet-ed by channel 66D, and the two remainling ports 65C by channel 66C, in the manner apparent from Figs. 5, 7 and 9. The rotatable block 64 is provided with a shaft 67 extending through the end bracket 62 and a coil spring 68 is Ainterposed between the members 62 and 64 to maintain the latter in lits proper position. A crank arm 51 is secured to the end of the shaft 67-for subjecting the latter to angular movement when actuated by the linkage 50 connecting the -arm with the lever and fingers 39, 41 and 42.

The `operation of this device'is briefly as follows Referringy to the several figures' of the drawings the two units comprising pumps, valves, storage tanks andtrack linstruments are identical in construction and grouped in units ror systems, spaced apart, and remote from the gate arm, the distance at which they are spaced being determined kby the length and speed of trains passing over the tracks in the region of a particular automatic crossing gate installation. The longer the trains or the faster the speed of the trains the greater the distance will be at which these associated units are located.

, With particular reference tocFig. 1 assuming a train to be passing in a direction extending from left to right the first wheel passing over the rails will initially strike the finger 41 which is designed to be rigid when pivoted in the direction indicated. The movement of the finger will effect a pull on the lever 39 which by virtue of its bell crank connection with the linkage 5() effects a movement of the lever 51 which rotates the valve block 64 causing the ports 65 to register with channel 66 connecting pipe 33 leading from the pump 35 and the pipe 25 leading from the operating cylinder 13 as shown by Fig. 7. In this position communication is also established between the pipe 23 leading from the upper head of the cylinder 13 and the pipe 29 of the storage tank 31 as shown in Figs. 5 and 7. As the wheels of the train pass over the rocker arm 53 the first wheel Adepresses the upraised arm, causing the deloo 127 Communicating ftherei'vith.

pressed arm to rise and this is turn depressed by the neXtwheel; this action is continuouswhile the train is passing, and by .the ports connect pipe 24 with tank 32 't'hrouglipipe V30 as seen in Fig. 8, this kposi- 'tionresulti'ng lfrom theprevious operation of thisA unit. y

'Referring 't-o'Fig. 3 it will be noted that as fluid under pressure passes into ther cylinder 13 through the Apo`rt18 Vfrom the pipe line25 as explained, 4the teeter valve 22 willfunction to close theport 19 to shut oil communication with the pipe 26. The subsequent pumping action will cause tli'episton member 1 2 to rise in the cylinder 13 which 'byvirtue of its toggle connection with the gate arm causes the latter tobe lowered in the po.- sition vshown -in dotted lines in Fig. 1. VV-hile the piston is rising in the cylinder the fluid above the piston member will flow through both of the upper `ports v16 'and 17 through thewpipe lines 23 and 24 through the Valves 27 and 28 into the storage tanks 31 and 32. Continued operation ofl the pump vafter the Apiston has reached they limit of its upward travel will build up excess pressure behind 'the pist-won; this will vbe relieved bythe valve 20, the excess fluid passing therethrough being returned lto the vtanks .as before. As long as the train continues to pass over the rst unit vof track -instrulments thegate arm will reinainin its horizontal or closed position and inasmuchas the 'finger 42 is arranged to be `broken `when it is tripped by the wheels passing in the direction which constitutes the vfinger 41 a rigid member the valve arml '51 will not'be lmoved until'a train haspassed over vthe track in ,the opposite direction.

After the train has passed the crossing at which the gate arms -are located it will strike the second unit of track instruments on the other side thereof which is arranged so vthat the yfinger 41a offers' resistance to the vwheel f to etl'ect a pulling onthe linkage that moves the valve arnrla. lllovement "of this arm will rotate the valve block Ito. the point where the channels register with the portsconnecting pipe 24 with pipe,y 34, and pipe 26 `with 'pipe 30 `corresponding toy Athat shown in through lthe valve V28 into the pipe line 24 v leadingto'the top ofthe *gateoperating cylf index' 13,. and vfluid enteringfthrough'the port "17 will act on'the fteet'e'r valve. 21 to close 'theport 1G causing the piston 12 to be lowered in the/cylinder to raise the gate ar1n2 to its vertical Lopen position as shown in Fig.

.1. The fluid in'the cylinder Vbelow the piston 12 will flow. through the ports 18 and 19b`ack into the storage tanks since. a downward pressure against the teeter valve 22 has'r the effect of maintaining it in its neutral position leaving -bothof the .port openings yunobstructed to .the flow of the fluid.

A similar lfunction or cycle '.ofioperation takes place when thetrain .passes over the rails 4in the reverse directions Vin which case the valve regulating vfingers described as rigid and actuated the fp assingfofY the wheels over the railslfin one direction will be brokenby `the passing of the wheels in opposite direction and the v.fingers that were collapsiblein oney direction will become rigid in the opposite directionv soas todispose the valve operating. arm 51"a in lthe opposite dii rection to v.establish communication between the valve.v ports which connectthe pressure pumps with the port in the side of the gate yoperating cylinder that willell'ect a loweringof the gate. 'Thus the track'instruments arej designed, and so lconnected. y with the regulating valves, as to elfectthe lowering of thegate arm for either direction of travel of railway "vehiclesgpassing the Atracks in the region of the crossing.V lilithery air., .inert gas, water, oil, 4glyce'rine or v,other suitable fluids may 3be employed in ,the` operation of this system and it is 'evident that variousl connections may be effected with the operating :mechanism to opera-te ysignals such as lights or sound alarms inconnection with theoperation of "the gate arms.

'It is evident from the foregoing description ofthis invention .that the .-automatic railway .gate operating. device herein de scribed provides asirn'ple and effective means for koperating railway gates' with absolute safety and in aneconomical. manner; The

llU

maintenance .and cost of the apparatus is. Y

relatively small on account of the simplicity of the operating mechanism which is possible with the yutilization of the fluid pressure operating medium..

Although one of the embodiments of this invention has ybeen herein describedl it will be obvious to those skilled in the art ,that various modifications may be made in the details of .construction and in the varrangementof the several cooperating vparts without departing from the principles herein set fort-h.

I claim: Y. A `1. An automatic railway-.crossing gate comprising a. vertically swinging gate arm, operatinginechanism for said arm, a Huid pressurecylinder having .a piston for actu-. ating said operating mechanism, a fluid pres'- sure pump communicating with said gate operating cylinder, a storage tank for maintaining a supply of the operating medium, a valve communicating with said cylinder, pump, and tank to regulate the flow of the operating medium from the pump to the operating cylinder and from the latter to the tank and track instruments operating said pump and regulating said valve, said track instruments, pump and valves being remote from the gate.

2. An automatic railway-crossing gate comprising a vertically swinging gate arm, operating mechanism for said arm, a pressure cylinder having a piston connected to and for actuating said mechanism, a plurality of pumps in spaced relation and remotefrom said gate, storage tanks containing an operating medium, valves communieating with said cylinder, pumps and tanks, and track instruments actuated by the wheels of railway vehicles passing over them to respectively operate and regulate said pumps and valves, said valves being connected by pipe lines to the top and bottom of said cylinder and to said pumps and tanks.

3. An automatic railway-crossing gate comprising a vertically swinging gate arm, operating mechanism for said arm, a pressure cylinder having a piston connected to and for actuating said mechanism, a pair of pumps spaced one on each side of said cylvinder, a valve for each pump, a storage tank communicating with each pump and valve and said cylinder, and track instruments for actuating said pumps and for regulating said valves, one of each of said pumps, valves, tanks and track instruments being arranged in groups to constitute an operating system to raise or lower said gate arm, and two of such groups or systems being in spaced apart relation remote from said gate operating cylinder.

4. An automatic railway-crossing gate comprising a vertically swinging gate arm, operating mechanism for said arm, a pressure cylinder having a piston connected to and for actuating said mechanism, a pair of pumps for exerting'pressure on the piston operating medium, valves for directing the medium to either the upper or lower side of said piston, and track instruments for actuating said pumps and for regulating` said valves, said instruments being operative -for either direction oi'Y travel ot' the vehicles passing over the tracks.

5. An automatic railway-crossing gate comprising a vertically swinging gate arm, operating mechanism for said arm, a pressure cylinder having a piston connected to and for actuating said mechanism, two groups of pumps, valves and track instruments for conducting an operating medium to either the upper or lower side of said piston to raise or lower said gate arm, said groups being iii' spaced relation on each side ot' said gate and adapted to alternately raise operating medium, valves fordirecting the medium to either the upper or lower side of said piston, and track instruments for actuating said pumps and for regulating said valves, said valves comprising a stationary housing having ports communicating with said pump, the upper and lower side of the gate arm operating piston, and a storage tank, and a rotatable cylinder actuated by the track instruments to establish communication between said ports 7. An automatic railway crossing gate comprising in combination a vertically swinging gate arm, a fiuid pressure actuating mechanism for said arm, and means operative through trains passing over the tracks in the region of the crossing and remote from said gate arm for controlling said actuating mechanism, said actuating mechanism comprising a fluid pressure actuated piston and cylinder embodying teeter valves for directing the operating fluid to raise or lower said gate arm. i

8. An automatic railway crossing gate comprising in combination a vertically swinging gate arm, a fluid pressure actuating mechanism torO said arm, means operative through trains passing'over the tracks in the region of the crossing and remote from said gate arm for controlling said actuating mechanism, said actuating mechanism comprising a fluid pressure actuated piston and cylinder embodying teeter valves for directing the operating fluid to raise or lower said gate arm, and said control means comprising a regulating valve for directingy the operating fluid from a source of pressure to said cylinder and back to a storage tank, and from said tank to saidv pressure source.

9. An automatic railway crossing gate comprising in combination a vertically swinging gate arm, a fluid pressure actuating mechanism for said arn1,and means operative through trains passing over the tracks in the region of the crossing and remote from said gate arnrfor controlling said actuating mechanism, said means for controlling the actuating mechanism comprising a pressure pump, actuating mechanism for said pump and a regulating valve for directing the operating fluid from said pump to Asaid cylinder.

10. An automatic railway crossing Vgate comprising in combination a vertically swinging gate arm, a fluid pressure actuating mechanism for said arm, and means CD4 erative through trains passing over Athe tracks in the region of the crossing and remote from said gate arm for controlling said actuating mechanism, said means for controlling the actuating mechanism comprising a pressure pump, actuating mechanism 'for vsaid pump and a regulating valve comprising:r a rotatable valve having a plurality of 10 lports adapted to communicate with said cylinder. 

